The Fowlerville Family Fair starts Monday and runs all week through Saturday. You should go; take the kids.

You know where it’s located, at the fairgrounds just west of town, at 8800 W. Grand River Ave. That’s where it has always been, for nearly 130 years.

And that of course is the point. This is not just another fair with carnival rides and cotton candy, although it is that as well. It’s a tradition.

The Fowlerville Family Fair is much more akin to the old-style county fair with a livestock auction and competitions, a tractor pull and a spelling bee.

They’ll choose a Homemaker of the Year.

Youngsters in 4-H will exhibit the goats, small animals, swine and beef they’ve raised. When’s the last time you took in a swine show?

Started back in 1887, the fair is the work of the Fowlerville Agricultural Society, whose goal is agricultural education and the preservation of farm traditions. The result of course is that the youngsters who participate in 4-H and get the experience raising animals learn those traditions. But just attending the fair gives suburbanites and city dwellers a glimpse of life on the farm.

You can take in some harness racing Monday at noon. Llamas and alpacas will be shown at 2 p.m. Demolition derby figure eight racing is at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, the swine and horse shows begin at 8 a.m. Farm life starts early. The rabbit show is at 9 a.m. The fair king and queen will be named in the evening.

Wednesday, there is a sheep show at 9 a.m.; cats at 9:30 a.m. 4-H Mower Madness is at 2 p.m. Supercross racing in the evening.

Larger animals are on display Thursday. The Western Horse Show is at 8 a.m.; the beef show is at 9 a.m. There is a draft horse pull at noon in the grandstands. The Lost Nation Rodeo is in the evening.

On Friday, there is a rooster crowing contest in the Small Animal Barn at noon. The livestock auction begins at 2 in the Livestock Arena.

It all wraps up Saturday with a Veterans Day ceremony at noon, a small animal auction at 2 p.m. and a monster truck championship in the evening at 7 p.m.